5/28 Panorama Short Review (no pics)

[aces4free]

Hello everyone!

 

There's been a lot of Panorama reviews, so I just wanted to share my two cents on the cruise I just got off yesterday. I am a Gold VIPF member, but this is my first cruise since 2016. I travelled with my mom for her retirement/birthday.

 

Embarking: We had a 2:00 boarding time. From standing outside in the line to actually setting foot on the Panorama, whole process took an hour. We used Verifly and it was very easy to use. We didn't have to provide physical proof papers of our vaccination status and covid test. They just checked the green marks on the Verifly app, and that was it. As of 6/4, Long Beach cruise terminal was still making cruise-goers wear a mask inside. I thought they had done away with that, but I couldn't find any new updates to the mask rule online. So bring a mask just in case!

 

Cabin: We stayed in cabin #8328, an Aft Balcony midship. I really enjoyed the cabin and it was walking distance to Lido deck and a small hike to floors 3-5. Our steward, I Made, was awesome and took great care of us. There aren't those plastic cups anymore in the cabin anymore. 

 

Food: We ate four dinner meals at the MDR and enjoyed our experience. The first dinner service is always chaotic and slow. But afterwards, everything was prompt and efficient. Average meal from start-to finish took 1.5 hours. We sat at table 201 and loved our tablemates! Some of the MDR dinner dishes were hit and miss, but that was to be expected. The New england clam chowder and grilled chicken pastas were poorly executed. A lot of the steak/meat entrees were actually cooked perfectly and tasted excellent. Overall, I enjoyed my experiences at the MDR regardless of food quality.

 

         We had the steakhouse booked for third night and it was phenomenal. Service and food were all on point. I had the ribeye while my mother had the lambchops. You definitely get a lot of food for what you pay. I was able to order more than one appetizer, but your YMMV. I also loved Guy's Burgers as I had a burger w/fries there four separate times. I wasn't too fond of BlueIguana Cantina. I didn't enjoy my burrito there, so I was one-and-done there. Pizza place was great as usual. I visited there numerous times during cruise, and the waits were never that bad. 

 

Bars/Javablue Cafe: Service was prompt and friendly at all the beverage outlets throughout the ship. I loved the ladies who worked at the Javablue Cafe, super nice! I had a DOU everywhere, and found out you can order all the coffee drinks, root beer floats, Gatorades, coconut waters from Javablue for free too. I found it easy to order a drink at any of the bars onboard quickly too. Compared to previous cruises pre-covid, I didn't notice a steep employee shortage on this cruise. 

 

Onboard activities: There were plenty of activities onboard to keep the masses occupied. From the many trivia contests to the sport competitions to the evening comedy shows, you can't be bored at all. I managed to win the Big Wheely? trivia with my dinner tablemates. I did the Friends & Big Bang Theory trivia too, but was simply outmatched. The casino was popular and busy throughout the week too. The Punchline Comedy shows were decent. Joey was our CD and he did great with the numerous dance parties on the Lido Deck. The only show I couldn't stand was the New York-theme Broadway show. 

 

Ports: For our itinerary, we had three consecutive days on the sea, followed by three straight days of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. For PV, we did the Greatest Outdoor Adventure with BBQ lunch excursion through Carnival, and I highly recommend it. The lunch was surprisingly yummy too. We ate at El Patron for dinner at PV, since the Panorama was there until 9pm. I don't recommend dining there at all. Service was slow and food wasn't even that great.  For Mazatlán, we just walked the blue line to the church in Old Town and booked a pulmonia for two hours to tour around the city. At Cabo, Panorama was there from 6:30-2pm. We got off the ship and took a water taxi to the Sandbar for massages. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed my Panorama cruise. I am used to the bigger ships like Oasis or Allure of the Seas, but I found this ship suitable to my needs. I am booked on the Mardi Gras for October and am looking forward to that. Comment below if you have any questions about the Panorama!

 

 

[vicky3vicky]

Thank you for your review.

Curious about your excursion in Puerta Vallarta, which includes lunch bbq. We have several exursions booked that include either lunch or dinner. The menus include protein, chips and salsa, beans and rice. I like all of these foods but I am looking for a lunch menu on an excursion that is a little different so I'm hoping the lunch on the excursion is not more of the same.

 

Did you try out the serenity deck  while the ship was moving and if so was it too windy to really enjoy? 

[aces4free]

1 hour ago, vicky3vicky said:

Thank you for your review.

Curious about your excursion in Puerta Vallarta, which includes lunch bbq. We have several exursions booked that include either lunch or dinner. The menus include protein, chips and salsa, beans and rice. I like all of these foods but I am looking for a lunch menu on an excursion that is a little different so I'm hoping the lunch on the excursion is not more of the same.

 

Did you try out the serenity deck  while the ship was moving and if so was it too windy to really enjoy? 

Our excursion's BBQ lunch was exactly that. Some skirt meat, chicken, sausage, cheese tortilla, and beans & rice. Tasty, but simple lunch. Our complimentary beverages were water and this other flavored water. 

 

Serenity deck was really nice and it wasn't too windy. Our pool weather for first five days was terrific. But leaving from Cabo and the last sea day, the weather was not on our side. It was windy throughout the whole ship on the last sea day, nobody went into the pool at all.  

[jerseygirlinAZ]

5 hours ago, aces4free said:

Hello everyone!

 

There's been a lot of Panorama reviews, so I just wanted to share my two cents on the cruise I just got off yesterday. I am a Gold VIPF member, but this is my first cruise since 2016. I travelled with my mom for her retirement/birthday.

 

Embarking: We had a 2:00 boarding time. From standing outside in the line to actually setting foot on the Panorama, whole process took an hour. We used Verifly and it was very easy to use. We didn't have to provide physical proof papers of our vaccination status and covid test. They just checked the green marks on the Verifly app, and that was it. As of 6/4, Long Beach cruise terminal was still making cruise-goers wear a mask inside. I thought they had done away with that, but I couldn't find any new updates to the mask rule online. So bring a mask just in case!

 

Cabin: We stayed in cabin #8328, an Aft Balcony midship. I really enjoyed the cabin and it was walking distance to Lido deck and a small hike to floors 3-5. Our steward, I Made, was awesome and took great care of us. There aren't those plastic cups anymore in the cabin anymore. 

 

Food: We ate four dinner meals at the MDR and enjoyed our experience. The first dinner service is always chaotic and slow. But afterwards, everything was prompt and efficient. Average meal from start-to finish took 1.5 hours. We sat at table 201 and loved our tablemates! Some of the MDR dinner dishes were hit and miss, but that was to be expected. The New england clam chowder and grilled chicken pastas were poorly executed. A lot of the steak/meat entrees were actually cooked perfectly and tasted excellent. Overall, I enjoyed my experiences at the MDR regardless of food quality.

 

         We had the steakhouse booked for third night and it was phenomenal. Service and food were all on point. I had the ribeye while my mother had the lambchops. You definitely get a lot of food for what you pay. I was able to order more than one appetizer, but your YMMV. I also loved Guy's Burgers as I had a burger w/fries there four separate times. I wasn't too fond of BlueIguana Cantina. I didn't enjoy my burrito there, so I was one-and-done there. Pizza place was great as usual. I visited there numerous times during cruise, and the waits were never that bad. 

 

Bars/Javablue Cafe: Service was prompt and friendly at all the beverage outlets throughout the ship. I loved the ladies who worked at the Javablue Cafe, super nice! I had a DOU everywhere, and found out you can order all the coffee drinks, root beer floats, Gatorades, coconut waters from Javablue for free too. I found it easy to order a drink at any of the bars onboard quickly too. Compared to previous cruises pre-covid, I didn't notice a steep employee shortage on this cruise. 

 

Onboard activities: There were plenty of activities onboard to keep the masses occupied. From the many trivia contests to the sport competitions to the evening comedy shows, you can't be bored at all. I managed to win the Big Wheely? trivia with my dinner tablemates. I did the Friends & Big Bang Theory trivia too, but was simply outmatched. The casino was popular and busy throughout the week too. The Punchline Comedy shows were decent. Joey was our CD and he did great with the numerous dance parties on the Lido Deck. The only show I couldn't stand was the New York-theme Broadway show. 

 

Ports: For our itinerary, we had three consecutive days on the sea, followed by three straight days of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. For PV, we did the Greatest Outdoor Adventure with BBQ lunch excursion through Carnival, and I highly recommend it. The lunch was surprisingly yummy too. We ate at El Patron for dinner at PV, since the Panorama was there until 9pm. I don't recommend dining there at all. Service was slow and food wasn't even that great.  For Mazatlán, we just walked the blue line to the church in Old Town and booked a pulmonia for two hours to tour around the city. At Cabo, Panorama was there from 6:30-2pm. We got off the ship and took a water taxi to the Sandbar for massages. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed my Panorama cruise. I am used to the bigger ships like Oasis or Allure of the Seas, but I found this ship suitable to my needs. I am booked on the Mardi Gras for October and am looking forward to that. Comment below if you have any questions about the Panorama!

 

 

We were on the same cruise and I was just going to start a review now.  I agree with most everything you said.  We had a great time on the Panorama!

[Morebeer]

Was disappointed the Rymthm of the Nights shore excursion at Puerto Vallarta got cancelled. We did book a sailing excursion there plus a harbor, tour excursion at Mazatlan for the same price as the cancelled excursion. 

[Linda the Book Lover]

Glad to hear the Steakhouse wa great. We ate at the Steakhouse on the Miracle which was excellent and the Radiance which was a huge miss. They had to send for another chef because Bless the one trying to do the steaks it was a catastrophe. We were told the chef was very new. Of course we will eat at the Steakhouse once again! Carnival always does it best at least in my opinion to ensure you have a great time. 

[jen3188]

On 6/5/2022 at 1:13 PM, aces4free said:

Ports: For our itinerary, we had three consecutive days on the sea, followed by three straight days of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. For PV, we did the Greatest Outdoor Adventure with BBQ lunch excursion through Carnival, and I highly recommend it. The lunch was surprisingly yummy too. 

 

We are booked for this excursion on our cruise in August. Any tips or info you can share? There aren't too many reviews for it, but it looks awesome! What did you wear and what type of shoes would be best? Thanks!

[redsox1584]

22 hours ago, Morebeer said:

Was disappointed the Rymthm of the Nights shore excursion at Puerto Vallarta got cancelled. We did book a sailing excursion there plus a harbor, tour excursion at Mazatlan for the same price as the cancelled excursion. 

 

Do you know why the Rhythm of the Nights got cancelled?  Was thinking of doing this excursion in September